Moscow, 10 November 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Iran's top nuclear official told Russian President Vladimir Putin today that it is suspending its uranium-enrichment activities and agreeing to full international inspections of its nuclear activities. The official, Hassan Rowhani, directs his country's nuclear affairs and heads the Supreme National Security Council. He said his government will send a letter today to the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) documenting the pledge.

Rowhani is in Moscow today for meetings with Putin and other top officials. Iran's nuclear activities have aroused international concern that Iran covertly could be developing a nuclear bomb.

"Iran has decided to eliminate the existing concerns about its nuclear activities and, to create a whole new atmosphere, we have decided to postpone, for a while, our activities on [uranium] enrichment, which is our natural right," Rowhani said.

Earlier, Russian news media reported that Russian officials planned to press Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA. Rowhani acknowledged today that Russia is important as an international power and a neighbor and friend to Iran.